The much-needed northern semi-ring road project for Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), designed to alleviate the city's chronic traffic congestion, is facing significant delays, mirroring the stalled progress of a similar southern bypass proposed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Four-Year Wait and Incomplete Land Plans
Proposed back in 2021, the northern bypass road has seen little tangible progress despite an allocation of ₹3.5 crore for a Detailed Project Report (DPR). A critical stumbling block is the incomplete Land Plan Schedule (LPS), which identifies the specific land parcels needed for acquisition. As of now, this vital document has been finalized only in Lalgudi taluk. The process remains ongoing in Manachanallur, Srirangam, and Thiruverumbur taluks, severely hampering forward momentum.
Project Scope and Expected Benefits
The proposed 35-kilometer, two-lane road is planned to connect Thuvakudi on the Trichy–Thanjavur National Highway with Poovalur on the Trichy–Chidambaram National Highway, passing via Kilikoodu near the Grand Anicut. Its strategic alignment aims to link several major highways and state highways, including routes to Chennai, Thuraiyur, Karur, and Namakkal.
Key spots to be connected include:
- Asoor
- Kilikoodu
- Poovalur
- Samayapuram
- Manachanallur
- Mutharasanallur
P Premkumar, a member of the civic group Trichy Intra-City Development Endeavours (TIDES), highlighted the project's importance, stating it would significantly decongest key junctions like Palpannai. "Vehicles commuting between Chennai and Thanjavur, and other delta districts, can skip the city by using the northern link road," he explained.
Proposed Infrastructure and Political Timeline
The project's blueprint includes substantial infrastructure development:
- Two new Railway Road Overbridges (RoBs) near Manakkal and Solagampatti.
- Four new high-level bridges—two each across the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers.
An official source indicated that work on the LPS has been expedited recently. There is a concerted effort to complete the DPR before the upcoming State Assembly elections, suggesting a political push to revive the stalled project. However, with the southern NHAI semi-ring road also delayed, Trichy's residents continue to grapple with worsening traffic snarls in the city core, awaiting relief from these crucial bypass developments.
